Sunday, September 6, 2009

SinnFéin Vice-President Mary Lou McDonald has accused the Government of misleading the public on the implications for Ireland's neutrality if the Lisbon Treaty is passed. Ms. McDonald accused the Government of applying a very narrow definition of neutrality in order to avoid the detailed implications of the Lisbon Treaty for the states neutrality.

Speaking as the Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA) launched its No to Lisbon Campaign Ms. McDonald said:

"The Lisbon Treaty has serious implications for our neutrality. Article 28 for the first time makes clear that the EU will have a common defence policy. The same article obliges member states to increase their military spending; draws us further into a military alliance; states that any future defence policy must be compatible with NATO; allows for the formation of mini military alliances; and expands the list of permissible military actions well beyond peace keeping and humanitarian missions.

"The Government, in an attempt to side step the issue, are applying a very narrow definition of Neutrality. Neutrality is about much more than what a country does with its troops. It is also about the alliances you are part of, the obligations created by those alliances, what you do with your resources, and what can happen in your name.

"SinnFéin has never argued that Irish troops will be sent overseas on military missions without the consent of the Oireachtas.

"However if Lisbon is passed the significant developments in the area of common defence policy contained in the Treaty will further erode our neutrality."

3 comments:

Pleace stop the treaty of lisbon! Is is antidemocartic, militaristic, antisocial. The disadvantages are much bigger, than the advantages. The EU can live with its actuell laws. They should only be changed into a democratic direction. With the treaty of lisbon, the european council is able to change this treaty in great parts without asking the parliament. This is nearly the same law, which mades the nationl- rassistic- party of Germany so powerfull in our country in the year 1933. Our basic law (the german constitution) and all other european constitutions should not be replaced by the treaty of lisbon. But the new treaty tries to bring all right- sytstems in a lower level than the new european right. Here is my informationpage: http://sites.google.com/site/euradevormwald/english . When you have some more english information, pleace send me a link or text or write it into the visitors book of my page. And pleace spread this text all over Ireland.

Thank you Felix. We are pushing the case very strogly that in voting No we are not voting against the EU, but we are voting No so we can get a better EU. The Lisbon treaty is a right wing treaty that is bad for Europe and bad for working people across Europe

BALBRIGGAN AND DISTRICT SINN FÉIN

This website is intended to keep you up to date with the campaigning activities of Sinn Féin in your area. It is also intended to keep you in touch with issues issues of general concern/interest to local people. We in Sinn Féin are dedicated to creating an Ireland that is united, independent and run in the interests of all its people.

DO YOU WISH TO JOIN OR HELP SINN FEIN?

If you would like to join Sinn Féin in Balbriggan, or you just wish to help out in some way, then please contact.

Peadar on 087 7904271

Remember that everybody has a part to play in making Ireland a better country and no part is too small.

So give Peadar a ring and help Sinn Féin build an Ireland based on Unity, Peace and Equality